LOVING MR. CHRIS

Chapter 1

People slowed down to stare at the beautiful man after he descended from the plane.

Ignoring the stares, he pulled off his black shades and took in a deep breath.

" Home sweet home" he murmured.

" Sir" he turned his attention to the person in a driver's uniform.

" Right this way sir," the man said gesturing towards the black limousine, he winced, he didn't need such a grand ride but trusted his father who always loved grand entrances.

He followed the man to the car, trying his best to avoid eager reporters with their cameras pointing at him as his bodyguard parted a way for him through the sea of admiring ladies.

He got into the car and wiped his sweat.

" That was close, take me to the mansion," he said earning a 'yes sir' from the driver.

He relaxed his back and closed his eyes; he was glad he was back. Fatigue took hold of him, he dozed off. Minutes later the man in the back seat became restless, he moved his head as his face twisted in fear and agony, and suddenly he jumped up in fright. After examining his location to see that he was safe, he took in a deep breath.

'He was back home and the trauma was back too'

*******

Shanel sighed as she checked her phone for the third time just that morning, she had been trying to contact Gerald all day.

" Maybe I should just wait for him at home," Shanel thought, she placed her phone on her desk and went back to work.

" Mrs. Anthony, Mr. Bradford said he would like to see the report from yesterday, " the assistant to the CEO said.

" Ok I will get back to you," she said and went to print the report.

The boss was a kind old man, she had worked for him for five years now, Mr. martins her boss was well respected by not only her but the whole city, although old, he was still very hardworking, at this age he was supposed to retire but he still worked as hard a young man, sometimes she wondered if he had any kids.

She took the reports to his office and knocked on the door.

"Come in" she heard the stern voice of Mr. Martin say, she held the door handle and pushed it in, she cleared her throat to attract his attention, he raised his head from his laptop and looked at her.

" Do you have it" he inquired.

" I wouldn't be here sir if I didn't" she sarcastically replied, Mr. Martin looked at her for a second before bursting into loud laughter, Shanel always had a way to make him laugh.

" You stupid girl, always joking," he said and took the papers that she stretched out to him.

" Like I always say...."

" A laugh a day keeps the doctor away" they both recited and Mr. Martins chuckled at the end.

" The original saying is an apple, not a smile," he said and she shrugged.

" What are you doing tonight" he asked suddenly after thinking about something.

" Am supposed to have dinner with my husband" she answered as she took a seat in front of Mr. Martin. He rolled his eyes at her statement.

" That good-for-nothing man," he said and scoffed.

"Sir please, He is still my husband" she challenges and folds her arms after crossing her legs.

" And I am wondering why?" He mocked flipping through the papers

" Because I love him, besides for better or for worse" she countered, Mr. Martins wondered how she always had something to say.

" You surely deserve better" he continues.

" I believe he would change, nobody is perfect," she said and he snorted, shaking his head, that was her insecurities talking.

" Stubborn lad," he told her and she smiled innocently.

" But you still love me" she countered, he made a sound in his throat because he knew she was right, he took her as the daughter her never had,

" When He breaks, your heart doesn't come crying " he teased,

" Yes, I would," she said as she stood up.

" You'll see, I wouldn't even talk to you," he said after her as she laughed and closed his door.

" Silly lad" he muttered while shaking his head.

" Finally, " Shanel said hours later, as she saved her file, she's been working on this project for a week now. She looked at the time and gasped.

" Oh, my goodness " she screamed and hurriedly picked up her things, it was some minutes before her date night, and she had forgotten about the time, Gerald was going to be mad.

She checked out of her office, ran to the garage, and unlocked her car with her keys, it made a beeping sound before the door automatically opened, she loved that car, Gerald got it for her on her birthday last month it was more like an apology than a gift.

She sat in her car and took a deep breath, she looked at her phone to check if there were any missed calls from Gerald, but she saw a message instead.

' Sorry babe, I don't think we can have that dinner tonight, there's a lot of work in the office, I would make it up to you some other time,

Love you.

She sighed as she closed her phone, guess there's no need to hurry.

She slowly drove out of the garage and headed home,

She parked her car and came down; she picked up her things from the car and walked into the house. She removed her shoe and switched on the light, the house was lonely, she sighed as she walked into the house, and she removed her clothes as she got to her room.

After taking a bath, she went to the kitchen to make dinner, she took her time preparing Gerald's favorite, and as she put down the pot, she slipped and held a place to steady herself, Shanel screamed when she realized that what she held was the stove she had just turned off.

She treated her wound and carefully placed the food in a heating container so that it would still be warm when Gerald got back. She just sat down to eat when she received a notification on her phone.

' Hey girl just wanted you to see this

Below was a picture of Gerald dining with another woman, she sighed and dropped her phone,

"Might be a client" she muttered, Willing herself not to overthink it she stood up to go and sleep.

She lay on the bed, she tossed and turned but couldn't sleep. She kept thinking about the picture, she just hoped it wasn't what she was thinking.

'He said he would change' she thought.

He promised her that he would.

Slowly tears fell from her eyes.

Hours later,

She heard a car drive in and she looked at the time, it was two in the morning, she closed her eyes and pretended to sleep when he came into the room, she listened as his footsteps drew closer to the bed to check if she was asleep, she heard him sigh and then go into the bathroom, she looked at the door as he closed it, she closed her eyes again when he came out, his phone rang as he quickly went to pick it.

" Hello, ...." He said and listened to the other person.

" I know am sorry but I had something to do," he said to the person on the phone. He ran his hand through his hair.

" I know, just a little more time my love"

When Shanel heard the endearment, her heart dropped.

" I know me too," he said after a while and cut the call.

" Who is that" Shanel suddenly asked startling him.

" How long have you been awake" he asked.

" I just woke" She watched the obvious relief pass through his face.

" Why?" She asked

" Nothing I was just talking to a client," he said but she knew it was a lie.

" Let's go to sleep," he said and joined her in bed, she clenched her fist when he fell asleep, she rose from the bed and grabbed his phone, she unlocked his phone easily even when it had a password, and checked his recent messages.

Her heart dropped when she saw them, not one nor two, she sighed and tossed it away, she stared at the man sleeping peacefully beside her, and tears slowly ran down her eyes.

She had struggled to keep their relationship; she had even been the one to suggest the Friday dinner but there he was.

She raised her hand to hit his head but then changed her mind, she turned her face the other way and let her tears cloud her vision.

She deserved better.

The next morning, she woke alone in bed, Shanel sighed, and she went down to make breakfast for herself to discover that the dinner she made last night was being eaten by the maid.